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“Thanks.”
I drop my chin to acknowledge his gratitude and take a slice of my own.
Before I take a bite. “What did you say to Tray?”
“I gave him Willow’s information and asked him to run a scan on our current employees to see if anything is out of place. He’s getting me Willow’s personal phone number as well. I’ll get her financial and hospital information as soon as I have it. I think contacting the doctor who oversees Annie should be the first thing we do. We don’t know how serious everything is, but it has to be bad if Willow felt she needed to—” Alex leaves the part about her trying to deceive us off the end of his sentence.
His love for Willow extends to her daughter whether she’s his blood or not.
I feel the same way.
I meant my words, Willow belongs to us and I want every piece of her.
My chest swells with the thought that Willow might introduce us to her daughter one day. I’ve never considered myself a family man but Willow has always been the exception to my rules.
“What do we do now?” I look to Alex like he’ll be my voice of reason.
“Give her some time. I’m sure this is a lot to absorb. It’s Saturday, she’s at the hospital with her daughter. Let’s just give her a little space, I’ll check on her tomorrow if we don’t hear from her.” The end of his answer sounds like a question. As though he’s feeling me out to see if I’ll accept his terms and I nod.
“Deal. But I’m getting us a shot of something. I don’t care how early it is. I need to take the edge off.”
Alex chuckles but little did either of us know, the edge was just getting started with us.
WILLOW
I took a rare day off yesterday and spent most of it at the hospital with Annie. After waking up between Shane and Alex sitting in their chairs on either side of the bed I was in, I had a moment of panic, and needed to take some time for myself.
This was not the outcome I expected when I went to their club on Friday night, and although I’ve wanted them both for so long, what transpired between us is confusing.
Annie was asleep when I arrived at the hospital, and I told my mother to go home to rest. For the longest time I only had my mom and Annie. Now Shane and Alex want to be a part of my life as well, but things look different in the morning light.
My mother would never understand two men in my life. She already has a low opinion of the romantic choices I’ve made, especially after Dale, and she doesn’t even know the whole story.
Around lunchtime, our usual doctor joined us along with a new team of specialists who explained the new options available to us. Apparently one of the guys had contacted the hospital already and settled everything for Annie’s care.
I spent the next few hours sobbing relieved, happy tears silently into my vending machine soup while I sat by Annie’s side as she watched cartoons on the hospital monitor.
I don’t know how I’m going to explain the donation for Annie’s care to my mom yet, but right now it doesn’t matter.
The nurse came in and took Annie away for a couple of tests, and I took the time to check my online banking only to discover my second mortgage was no longer in arrears. It wasn’t there at all. Switching bank apps, I released an audible gasp at my first mortgage. They didn’t pay it off, but they did pay off everything that was added to it, taking me back to the balance I had before Dale cleaned me out.
I was most moved that they didn’t just throw money at everything and made it all disappear. I still want to be responsible for paying my own way. It touched my heart that Shane and Alex recognized my need to be independent, and I cried some more.
When the nurse returned, she settled Annie into her bed then approached me with a warm hug, telling me my daughter had really good chances. I felt shallow telling her I was actually crying over money, but it really wasn’t the money.
It was the room I needed to breathe.
I felt like I was suffocating myself while I tried to give Annie her fighting chance, and this is the first time in a long time I didn’t feel heavy.
I rushed home for a quick shower before visiting hours were over and made it back just in time to spend the night, sleeping in an open bed beside Annie when my phone lit up with an unknown number.
Unknown: Sweet dreams, Kitten. We’ll see you soon.
My dreams were sweet.
They were filled with anticipation for the next time I would see Alex and Shane. My mind calmed at all of the things we did together and what might come next.
I wish I knew how they both felt back then, but at the same time, I don’t because I wouldn’t have Annie, and she is the one thing in my life I would never give up.
